Southern Conference names December athletes of the month

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its December athletes of the month Friday, highlighting excellence among five student-athletes across four sports during the month.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina, Sr., G, Albany, Ga.

• Averaged 22.7 points, 12.6 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in December, leading the league in scoring and rebounding during the second month of the season
• Notched a league-best six double-doubles in the month, scoring at least 20 in five of them, en route to becoming the NCAA leader in double-doubles with 10
• Had a career-high 35 points and 14 rebounds against Gardner-Webb on Dec. 2
• Recorded 22 points, including the game-winning bucket with 1.5 seconds left, 12 rebounds and three assists in an upset win at Vanderbilt on Dec. 19
• Named SoCon Player of the Week three times during the month (Dec. 4, 11 and 25) and Oscar Robertson Player of the Week on Dec. 27

Others nominated: Jaden Seymour (ETSU), JP Pegues (Furman), A.J. Staton-McCray (Samford), Honor Huff (Chattanooga) and Corey Tripp (Wofford)
 
 
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Rachael Rose, Wofford, Jr., G, Scranton, Pa.

• Averaged 21 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 3.2 steals per game as Wofford went 2-3 during the month
• Has scored double digit points in every game this season to extend her streak to a school-record 33 consecutive games
• Scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in Wofford’s 71-70 upset over Virginia on Dec. 16, 23 points in the Terriers' setback at Tennessee on Dec. 19 and 22 points in a loss to Georgia on Dec. 30
• One of only four women’s basketball players in the country averaging 20+ points, 5+ rebounds, and 5+ assists this season
• Leads the SoCon in points per game (20.0), free throw percentage (.881), assists (5.5), and assist to turnover ratio (2.2)

 
Others nominated: Neveah Brown (ETSU), Stacie Jones (Mercer), Jayde Gamble (UNCG), Carly Heidger (Samford), Jada Guinn (Chattanooga) and Chelsea Wooten (Western Carolina)

 
RIFLE
Smallbore
Christopher Hicks, VMI, Sr., Culpeper, Va.

• Helped lead the Keydets to wins over Wofford and John Jay College in early December
• Posted the top individual score of the day, shooting a smallbore-best 571 to go with a 580 in the air rifle (1151)
• Averaging a 567.167 Small Bore, 1149.5 aggregate score this season

 
Air Rifle
Victoria Phillips, VMI, Jr.

• Helped lead the Keydets to wins over Wofford and John Jay College in early December
• Led all competitors with a 586 in the air rifle
• Averaging a 558.167 Small Bore, 1139.834 aggregate score this season

 
 
WRESTLING
Kamdyn Munro, Chattanooga, R-Fr., 165, Savannah, Ga.

• Perfect in the month of December, going 4-0 with a pair of pins and two major decisions
• Scored 20 out of possible 24 points, leading the Mocs to a 3-1 record for the month
• Recorded two pins to lead the Mocs to wins over Buffalo and Kent State
• Earned a major decision in the Mocs’ setback to Little Rock
• Also recorded a major decision in Chattanooga’s win over Queens

 
Others nominated: Ethan Oakley (Appalachian State), Domenic Zaccone (Campbell), Jha'Quan Anderson (Gardner-Webb) and Patrick Jordon (VMI)
 

Southern Conference December Athletes of the Month
Men’s basketball                       Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina
Women’s basketball                  Rachael Rose, Wofford
Rifle – smallbore                       Christopher Hicks, VMI
Rifle – air rifle                           Victoria Phillips, VMI
Wrestling                                  Kamdyn Munro, Chattanooga